Hey hey :) Sorry, I could have posted it yesterday if not for my internet refusing to work. Well, but consider yourselves lucky, because as a consequence of no webcomics or anything to distract me from writing (the drawbacks of the internet...), Chapter 16 is almost done. :)
Chapter 15 - Watching
Of course. What else would Seth and Embry be up to? It was not like they just arrived and could take some time for arriving and relaxing. No.
How could a... grown-up man – it was still quite a stretch to see Seth like that – be so eager for the ultimate adventure of scouting – or patrolling, in his case – through the forest just like Pili?
The only difference was that he wasn't bouncing up and down on my arm. But he clearly itched to go out, to phase and to see that bloodsucker place.
"Sure. The sooner we go, the better.", Mikala sided with the guys. "I can lead you there."
"Yes!", Seth shouted. "Leah, you're coming?"
I rolled my eyes. "Of course."
We left the house through the back door, entering the forest. I ducked into the underbrush for a decent place to phase. This time, I tied my clothes to my leg. As inconvenient as that was, it was still better than being unable to speak.
We met a few yards further in the underbrush. This time, the pack was reversed. One dog, three wolves. Three fellows with whom I could communicate, one who could talk to us, but not hear us.
We followed Mikala through the woods at full speed, which felt good to my wolf body. I enjoyed the wind and the speed as we flew through the trees, jumping tree logs and ducking under low branches. Too soon, the racing was over and Mikala slowed to a trot.
Head in the game, Leah., Embry reminded me.
Sure, sure. Just let me enjoy myself while I'm at it., I thought back at him.
The awfully sweet vampire stink was all over the place. It was a sort of clearing, much like the one we'd fought the vampire army years ago. I wasn't eager at all for a repetition.
Quiet., Embry hushed us. We all pricked our ears and stood perfectly still. Mikala mirrored our stance though he hadn't heard us.
All of us smelled it before we heard it. It was hard enough a strain for even our ears to hear a vampire, but their smell would always give them away.
There were two of them, moving at an inhumane speed onto the clearing. They seemed to be at ease, not suspecting the four pairs of eyes that were directed on them.
It was a male and a female leech, young in age as it seemed. We watched them intently, hoping and waiting for some gesture to reveal more about them.
"Do you believe them?", we heard a high-pitched female voice call out.
The male shrugged. "Why would I? It's never of any good to trust anyone.", he grunted, looking about the place.
"You trust Luke.", the female stated in a lower voice.
"Yes.", admitted the male. "I trust Luke. He knows everything."
There was some reverence in his voice that made me shudder slightly. Luke must be their leader. Or their... creator.
"I am not trusting Luke. I trust many of the others, but I don't trust him."
Obviously, the man – if you could really call it a man, that is – didn't agree with that. He rushed forward onto the clearing. The female followed soon after, obviously not wanting to be left behind.
I found it odd how their behaviour didn't match their words at all.
There was a movement in the forest some yards from our watching post. My head yerked to the side, as did those of the others. We made out another bloodsucker rushing toward the others. Both of them stiffened upon his approach. I wondered about their relationship.
I think this one is the 'Alpha'., Seth thought. I could feel his eagerness to stride forward and rip them apart.
Seth, you don't., I told him sternly. According to the past pack times, the second-in-command could use a kind of Alpha's command as well. I'd never checked if I could, and I never wanted to, anyway. But I had to hinder Seth from doing anything reckless.
He laughed. Keep cool, sis. I've got me under control – you see?
I listened to his mind. Okay., I replied. Attention back to the field, please.
The other leech had reached the couple. He greeted them without words, standing before them with a probing glance.
"We've been to the southern part of the island for hunting.", the male volunteered.
"You better had. I don't need weak fighters.", the other spat at him in a military tone.
"Luke, I'm full, really. I could take down two at once right now.", he asserted.
Luke laughed. "Sure. We'll see what you're good for."
Sheepishly, the male stepped back a few feet. The female stepped with him, only to be called back to Luke harshly.
"Mekana!"
She flinched, but stepped toward him again. "How about you? I hear you're making friends with your comrades?"
"...Yes, sir.", she replied hesitantly.
"You know you're here to fight, not for girly friendships?"
She dropped her gaze. "Yes."
"Good. Then I hope I'll see you fighting well this afternoon." With that, he turned away again. Mekana hurried to the side of the male.
We watched as they walked a few yards to the side, standing there as if in expectation of something. It occured to me that we had an advantage. They didn't have the slightest idea of our existence, so they didn't recognize our scent, so they wouldn't feel threatened or spied on or anything. As long as we kept concealed and left them in the dark.
There were more of them trailing in while we watched. A few greeted Mekana and her companion, some others just stared at them. A few minutes later, Luke stepped into the center of the clearing. "Fighting Session for today.", he announced without a greeting. His voice was clear, but not louder than normal human conversation, though all of the others stood some yards away from him. Enhanced mythical being senses, like our own.
"Mekana, Pele. Begin."
Mekana stepped forward, hesitantly, looking at a tiny black-haired woman next to her. Both of them etched into the circle in the center, surrounded by all of their comrades. I counted nine of them. So ten, with Luke.
Pele took a small step toward Mekana, slightly baring her teeth. Mekana's stone face was creased in disgust and despair. She was unwilling to fight.
Luke growled at them. "Get going. Now."
Desperately, Mekana lunged at the tiny leech across from her. The other reacted by flitting out of her way. She sprang at her from behind, but it seemed more like she was about to embrace her than to kill her. Seemed like the monsters weren't so happy about being monsters. As if they weren't, already, by the way they ate...
Luke intervened, finally, shoving both of them aside. "Pathetic. Back off! – Lahaina, Kailua. Come here. And you better bring a better performance.", he ordered. "Worthless to take women in for fighting. Should have thought of that.", he muttered, not concerned for others to hear it. My feministic awareness rose at that. As if women were less capable of stuff like this. After all, what was I doing here?
You're doing great., Embry thought gentlemanly.
Thanks. I knew before.
The two male vampires had immediately begun to fight, one of them was the male we'd seen first. There were ripping noises heard, snarling and growling. Though it was pointless fighting among their own kind, it was satisfying to see how our enemies were about to extinguish themselves. Saved us work.
No!, Seth thought. I'd liked to slap him. But every move might expose us. I could save that one for later.
"Stop.", Luke commanded just in time to keep the two of them from ripping each other to pieces. What a shame.
So that means he needs them. Seems they're newborns, right?, Embry concluded what we were witnessing here.
Right. And I still need to know how many there are. Do you think those ten are all of them?
None could give a reply. How would we know?
Maybe we can find out if we keep watching., Seth proposed.
Luke had made two others fight in the center. I let my eyes trail over the expressions of the others. They varied. Some itched to join the fight themselves, others, like Mekana and Pele, looked sad and reluctant to have anything to do with it. Well, I could end their grief. If only we knew what they were after...
I'd like to spy on Luke. Maybe he'll spill the beans anytime soon., Seth volunteered.
So what are you going to do on your own if he discovers you? I don't think it's that inconspicious if you're followed by a giant wolf.
Who says he'll find me?, Seth countered. I rolled my eyes.
The idea isn't that bad., Embry thought. That way, we might find out what is waiting for us.
We could also... ask Edward., Seth mused. He could easily pick it from his mind.
I growled at him, but only in my thoughts, as to not make a noise.
I don't want any of them here. This is something we alone have to solve. As if we need your bloodsucker friends for that.
Leah!, he exclaimed. You're being stubborn. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean they couldn't help us.
No., I argued.
Fine. Then we might as well all die., he snapped back at me.
Embry tried to calm us. Hey, Clearwaters. Stop fighting. There's something to watch over there.
He made us abandon our quarrel for now and look back at the vampire assembly. It seemed like the fighting session was over. Most of them were already trailing away slowly, when Luke's voice hissed across the clearing to call them back.
"Tomorrow here. Same time. I'll tell you what this is about."
"Can't you tell us now?" The question came from a tall guy standing among some of the others.
Luke's head snapped over to where he stood, he glowered at him. Supposedly, he wasn't used to others disobeying him. "No.", he barked. The way he walked toward the other slowly made him step back automatically. I couldn't put my finger on what exactly made him look like a threat to a bunch of ghoulishly strong undeads, what with their newborn strength. Was that only his appearance and behaviour, or was it something more that kept his slaves obedient to him?
Obviously, the debate was over now. Luke gestured them with a flap of his hand that the meeting was done. They left, probably to go kill another lot of people. The thought made the hair on my neck rise. As soon as possible, we needed to stop this. Every day was too much, but we had to think of our tribes as well. We couldn't put ourselves in danger, either.
Which was exactly what Seth was after, as it seemed. He'd turned around already, tracking Luke.
No, Seth!, I shouted after him in my head. Stop it. Now.
Seth didn't listen to me, of course.
I'll be careful., he told me.
I was afraid for my brother – this one wasn't a newborn. He was more experienced. He would take Seth down if he noticed he was there. Well, unless we would hinder him. But I didn't want those rash decisions, we needed to think things through.
Seth. Stop now., I repeated, trying to make my voice sound like an Alpha's command. It didn't work. I tried again. Seth, come back here.
The double timbre was absent. So there was nothing vital to my being second-in-command. It was solely an honorable title.
I felt Seth skid to a stop. His thoughts were incredulous.
Were you really trying to make me? Using an Alpha's command?, he asked, indignantly.
I'd thought you hated it., he accused. But he was pacing slowly back our direction.
Yes, I do., I admitted. But I was afraid for you. You were not allowed to go after him. Since when do you do something else than your pack does?
Now he decided to be stubborn again. You're only my sister, after all. Jake is the Alpha.
I'm second!, I emphasized.
Well..., he said, reluctant to admit, but having no way to negotiate it anyway.
Embry sighed. Could we please have some truce here?
I complied. Seth was still moping. Great. Let's go home.
We turned and began to ran towards Hilo again. Only now, I remembered Mikala being with us. I felt guilty for having no way to include him – but then again, our latest pack conversation wasn't something it was a pity to miss.
Seth was quiet the whole way, as far as he was able to. I wondered what his problem was. Embry was still blissful, he liked the task and was only slightly unnerverd by our sibling fighting. Oh, well.
The way took only a short time for us at full speed. I trotted off into the underbrush to phase back, while the guys didn't bother to search for cover when they phased. When I was in my proper clothes again – though a little strained from running, as always, that was annoying – I joined the guys.
"Mikala, sorry for excluding you.", I apologized as soon as we were walking back to our house.
He frowned. "Well. It's weird, but that's similiar to how you felt last time, right?"
"Yes, sort of. Only in a reversed manner. It's hard to be unable to communicate with each other."
He nodded in agreement. "But... it seems like there is nothing we can do about it."
I shook my head. "Probably not... if there was a way to... put our thoughts in your mind or something like that... it'd be great.", I fantasized. Mikala laughed. "That would be just the right thing for Pili. An internal cellphone, somehow." I joined in and kept wondering if there was anything... but I came up blank.
By now, Seth had given up on his childish moping and was with us. "Maybe we could invent something.", he proposed earnestly. The next instant, the conversation got too technical to follow it. All three of them were discussing ways of inventing a useful device for the matter. Guys.
It was absolutely great to be back home. Pili was home, too, but when he saw us come home, he wasn't as lively as usual. Probably he remembered the threat Rebecca had given to him earlier.
We sat down at the kitchen table, where Becky served a lot of good things for lunch. I wondered if she was really equipped and braced for what was waiting for her with two over-grown young men in the house. I really hoped she was okay with doubling her shopping expenses...
"Seth! Can I go to the forest with you?"
I laughed as I watched Pili, who had forgotten his guilty conscience and found another victim to impose his untireable enthusiasm upon. "Keni will come over, and he wants to see my cool new friends, too!"
Seth laughed. "Sure, Pili. You ever seen a bear? Let's see if we find one." With that, the two of them were already out the door, impatient for Keni to join them. I began to see that I could probably never fulfill a little boy's need for adventure as much as a man could do. It was in their nature... or maybe it was just Seth.
"I'm coming, too.", Embry exclaimed. Okay. So it was their nature.
"Be back at dinner.", Rebecca called after them, grinning at me. "You just thought what I'm thinking?", she asked. I grinned back. "Definitely."
"Boys.", she said, and we laughed together.
"Did I miss something?", Mikala voiced, raising his eyebrows.
"No.", Becky told him and pecked him on the cheek.
I leaned back on my chair, quite content. Being here was right, vampires or not.